How to download video from miniDV tapes - Panasonic PV-GS31 Mini DV Digital Camcorder

Sony and the other media suppliers do not recommend re-recording over any digital tapes, including MiniDV. Re using tapes can lead to dropouts and errors after only a few times. With MiniDV prices so inexpensive these days (in the grand scheme of things), is there any reason NOT to use new tape? Also, many companies keep all their MiniDV tapes as a kind of stock footage archive. You never know when you might need a shot that you have already filmed, and it saves considerable time and money to pick the tape off the shelf.

you have to use the software included when you purchased the camcorder. you have to stream the videos like you're recording it on the computer.

The Sony HDR-HC26 is a miniDV tape based camcorder. No surprises if you can't get USB streaming working.

ALL miniDV tape based camcorders transfer DV-format video by conneting the DV port of the HD camcorder to the Firewire port of your computer. USB won't work. The "DV" in miniDV = Digital Video. It is as digital as the digital video from flash memory or hard disc drive or DVD based camcorders - only better because it is not compressed as much as the others.

Memory cards are not the only way to store digital video - and while not as good as miniDV tape, memory cards are not as bad as DVD based consumer camcorders...

Firewire IEEE1394, DV and i.LINK are all the same thing.

If your computer does not have a firewire port, hopefully it has an available expansion slot (PCI for desktops; PCMCIA or ExpressCard for laptops), so you can add one.

Your Camcorder supports video recording using the Tape only. However, you can record images (only) using the SD Card.

You just need a converter. here is one for you: Video Download Studio.

Since the JVC GR-D740EK is a european miniDV camcorder with no embedded memory nor memory card slot, I would assume that your talking about erasing or recording over your miniDV tapes. You can simply do so by sliding the the erase protection tab on your miniDV tape towards "record" and you can begin to record you movies. Prerecorded tapes cannot be deleted and used as "new" or bare (having no recording on it).

I have a zr300. You need a firewire connection and a firewire cable to download the contents of your minidv tape for burning. You can not do that with a usb cable. USB cable can only download photos and videos from your memory card not from the tape.

Hi, I have a SCD 5000 Samsung camera. The video plays and records. But the camera side does not show in the video screen. HELP me

Use a head cleaner tape (available on eBay most likely) and clean the recording heads.

There are no such adapters that would allow 8mm, Hi8 and Mini DV tapes to be played in a VHS VCR. Only the old VHS-C tapes can fit and play in an adapter. There are several reasons why 8mm (or Hi8 and miniDV tapes) cannot be physically played in a VHS VCR: 1. 8mm (Hi8, miniDV) is a different format with different technical characteristics than VHS. These formats were never developed with the intention to be mechanically compatible with current VHS technology. 2. 8mm/Hi8 tapes are 8mm wide (miniDV is 6mm wide), while VHS tape is 1/2" wide, making it impossible for a VHS video head to read the taped information correctly. 3. 8mm/Hi8/miniDV tapes are recorded and played at different speeds than VHS, so even if the tapes could physically fit into a standard VHS VCR, the VCR still couldn't play back the tapes at their correct speeds. 4. 8mm/Hi8/minDV audio is recorded differently than VHS. 8mm/Hi8 audio is recorded in AFM HiFi mode, while miniDV audio is recording in 12-Bit or 16-Bit PCM digital audio format. So, even if the video could be played back in a VHS VCR, the audio could not be read properly. 5. 8mm/Hi8 video is of higher resolution than VHS and is recorded in a different bandwidth length (miniDV video is recorded digitally), so once again, a standard VCR still could not read the information correctly, even if the tape could fit into a VCR.